Climate Change Fact or Fiction?

from Issuee 994 - Friday 2nd July 2021

Primary Focus Day

Opinion of Larry Mouat in response to Owen Jennings Part 1

Greenhouse gases keep our planet warm, similar to the way sunlight gets into a glasshouse but doesn’t all get out, so the HOMEKILL glasshouse warms up. Without greenhouse gases, our planet’s PROCESSING SERVICE average temperature would be NEW: Paddock to Plate Service about 30°ᶜ colder than present, Mobile slaughterman available! at minus 15 degrees. The For fast efficient service, please call us to book temperature would also fluctuate your slaughter and processing! dramatically, much like on the moon where temperatures range between plus 127 degrees and minus 173 degrees because the moon has virtually no atmosphere. Tel 03 317 9497 • Mob 027 355 0451 Our atmosphere has roughly 78% www.greendalebutchery.co.nz nitrogen (N2) and 21% oxygen (O2), with about 1% of others, including Greenhouse gases. Water vapour varies, depending on where you are. Nitrogen and oxygen molecules are each made up of only two atoms and don’t have the properties of Greenhouse gases. Water vapour (H2O), carbon Full Service from start to finish! dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are greenhouse gases because they have more than two atoms making up each molecule. The bonds between the atoms in greenhouse gases have the ability to absorb some of the infrared energy (radiation) travelling upward through the atmosphere, collectively maintaining our relatively balmy climate. Between the earth's surface and the atmosphere, about 70% of the incoming radiation is retained and about 30% is reflected back into space. Scientists have known about greenhouse gases for a long time and satellites have been measuring the signature of infrared radiation wavelength decline in the upper atmosphere, since the 1970s. The problem with CO2 is as levels rise, temperatures also rise and the atmosphere is able to hold more water vapour, also contributing to rising temperature. So CO2 is an amplifier. Most warming is occurring near the poles, affecting the jet stream and disturbing weather patterns, particularly in the northern hemisphere where there is more landmass. The ocean takes longer to warm than land and is absorbing 93% of the extra energy, which has seen an increase in the incidence of marine heatwaves in recent years. Carbon dioxide at over 400ppm is now at a level in our atmosphere where it hasn’t been for three million years when sea level was 15 metres higher and arctic summers 14 degrees warmer than the present. About that time the oldest alluvial outwash gravels in Canterbury were starting their journey from the Southern Alps toward Banks Peninsula. Most of the benefits we enjoy in the 21st century are based on science, the opinion above is based on science. If the problems associated with climate change are going to be addressed, we need to listen to the science. Larry Mouat, Glentunnel.